To all UNISON Members in Quarriers

Dear Member

NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE

We are writing to update you on the current state of play of our discussions with Quarriers regarding their proposed cuts to pay and conditions announced on 27^th April 2011. As you will know from our regular updates by email, letter and on our website we have been meeting with management on a regular basis.

We have proposed on a number of occasions alternatives which, whilst delivering savings, would do so in a more fair and equitable manner, we did so as the messages we received from you the members was that you were anxious for us to pursue a negotiated settlement if at all possible.

On 30^th June we set forth a proposal based on a sliding scale of salary reductions starting at 2% at the lowest end and rising to 11% for the highest paid. We were clear that we didn’t have an express mandate for this from members but if agreeable would take this forward to you as a pragmatic and fair solution to a very difficult situation. On 8^th July we met with Quarriers to receive their response which was rejection. They have made some movement in terms of their original proposals and we set out a summary of their update position in the attached paper.

Quarriers Executive has now proposed a maximum cut of 23% of wages.

An analysis of the cuts shows the following impact on staff:

Cuts of more than 10%                                                                   594     (29.3%)

Of this total those who will be cut more than 15%                     192     (9.5%)

Of the total those who will be cut more than 20%                       85       (4.2%)

Of the total those who will be cut 23%                                         37       (1.8%)

So in summary over a quarter of Quarriers staff will face cuts to their pay of over 10%. Quarriers have offered a one off payment to some staff affected by a pay cut, however if you are losing in the region of £5k year on year and one of payment of £1k is not really much of an amelioration.

Your branch do not believe that these cuts and the associated attacks on terms and conditions are tolerable and as it stands there is no prospect of us reaching agreement with Quarriers on a proposal we can take to you the members in good faith.

In order to be constructive and in an attempt to move matters forward at the meeting on 8^th July we requested that Quarriers agree to us approaching ACAS (the independent body that helps conciliate in situations such as these) to get involved. Quarriers have taken that request away and will advise us in due course as to whether they are agreeable to going to ACAS.

In light of the current situation the branch has taken the solemn decision to ask the union for authorisation to conduct a ballot on industrial action. You will recall we recently asked you in a consultative ballot would you be prepared to take industrial action should an agreement not be reached. Members voted massively in favour of taking action by over 90% with the majority in favour of taking strike action.

We will write to you as soon as possible to update you on how we have progressed in terms of securing agreement to hold a ballot and the likely timescale but at this point we would ask you to note the following:

• It is likely we will ballot you on taking action in the form of strike action and action short of strike action (these are measures such as overtime bans, work to rule etc). Your Branch is recommending you vote Yes to both;
• We need you to urgently ensure all your details are up to date including your home address, workplace and job title. Please call 0845 355 0845 and ask to verify your membership details with one of our UNISON Direct staff;
• It is vital we build our membership base, the more members we have the more impact our action will have, please encourage colleagues to join by signing up online at www.unison.org.uk/join or by calling 0845 355 0845;
• We understand taking industrial action is a last resort and we will continue to seek a negotiated settlement if at all possible. However, if it is not we need to show that we will not accept such savage cuts. The cuts are not fair; they hit those in the lowest grades hardest.
• We appreciate members will be concerned about the impact on service users; however we must be clear that we are acting in their interests as well as ours. Staff who are low paid with low morale will not provide the service that we currently do. It is Quarriers that have forced us down this line and it is them not us that are responsible for any impact on service users. It is also the case that many service user groups have been supportive of the stance UNISON is taking with regards to service cuts.
• Please raise what is happening to you with your MP, MSPs and local Councillors (remember you have more than one MSP and Councillor), ask them to raise the issue with Quarriers but also with Councils that fund Quarriers. You can find details of your elected representatives by entering your postcode on this website: www.writetothem.com , they are on summer recess just now so should have plenty of time to raise your issues!
• If your workplace doesn’t have a steward or contact, elect one!

We will keep in touch with you as matters progress but please keep an eye on our website at www.quarriersunison.org.uk . United we stand, divided we fall!

Yours sincerely

Stephen Brown                                                                    Simon Macfarlane

Branch Secretary                                                                 Regional Organiser

unisonquarriers@btinternet.co.uk

A Summary of Quarriers Negotiating Position as at 8^th July 2011

In view of the issues outlined above we are unable to accept the proposal put forward by Unison in relation to the sliding salary scale.  We are willing however to offer the following:

We will further ameliorate those most affected by the new scale proposals by reducing the capping figure so that the highest percentage of salary that staff will lose will be 23% instead of the previous proposed cap of 25%.  This will mean that those staff who would currently stand to lose more than 23% will have their salaries reduced by 23% and then those salaries will be ringfenced at that level until they leave the organisation.  They will remain on those protected salaries on a mark time basis i.e. they will not benefit from any further agreed inflationary payrise or increment within Quarriers until the current payscales have caught up with their protected salary level.

We will change our position on sick pay to a proposal of no sick pay for the first 2 days of absence instead of the first 3 days (we have clarified other cuts remain as proposed).

We will change our position on redeployment to a proposal of payment of excess travel only for 3 months (we have clarified other cuts remain as proposed).

We will change our position on maternity, paternity and adoption pay to a proposal of remaining at the current levels and not reducing these to the statutory minimum.

We will change our position on pension contribution of those employees on final salary scheme to a proposal of the increase of 3% being phased over 18 months and those employees who choose to leave the scheme having their contributions to date frozen and being able to join the stakeholder scheme instead.

We offer a 2 week extension to the consultation process which will take us up to the 10^th August 2011 and we will move to weekly meetings to facilitate the process.

NB. The proposed one off payments are dependent on us achieving the proposals set out in this paper and any changes to these proposals is likely to impact on these figures which are as follows: